09/09/2025

LYFE TUESDAY | SEPT 9, 2025

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HIGH-CAFFEINE energy drinks such as Red Bull will be banned for sale to youths under 16 in England under plans announced by the government. “By preventing shops from selling these drinks to kids, we’re helping build the foundations for healthier and happier generations to come,” Health Minister Wes Streeting said in a statement. Up to a third of 13- to 16-year-olds in England are believed to consume energy drinks – some of which contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee – despite most supermarkets having introduced a voluntary ban, according to the government. “How can we expect children to do well at school if they have the equivalent of a double espresso in ChatGPT to get parental controls AMERICAN artificial intelligence (AI) firm OpenAI recently said it would add parental controls to its chatbot ChatGPT, a week after an American couple said the system encouraged their teenaged son to kill himself. “Within the next month, parents will be able to... link their account with their teen’s account” and “control how ChatGPT responds to their teen with age-appropriate model behaviour rules,” the generative AI company said in a blog post. Parents will also receive notifications from ChatGPT “when the system detects their teen is in a moment of acute distress,” OpenAI added. The company had trialled a system of parental controls in a late August blog post. That came one day after a court filing from California parents Matthew and Maria Raine, alleging that ChatGPT provided their 16-year-old son with detailed suicide instructions and encouraged him to put his plans into action. The Raines’ case was just the latest in a string that have surfaced in recent months of people being encouraged in delusional or harmful trains of thought by AI chatbots – prompting OpenAI to say it would reduce models’ “sycophancy” towards users. “We continue to improve how our models recognise and respond to signs of mental and emotional distress,” OpenAI said. The company said it had further plans to improve the safety of its chatbots over the coming three months, including redirecting “some sensitive conversations... to a reasoning model” that puts more computing power into generating a response. “Our testing shows that reasoning models more consistently follow and apply safety guidelines,” OpenAI said. – AFP

Harry has been estranged from his family. – REUTERSPIC

Prince Harry back in UK, but will he see his father? P RINCE Harry returns to Britain this week amid speculation that he might visit his father King the rare events which brings him back to Britain. close to his father, and they can be in the same country, there’s going to be talk that they might well get together.” Buckingham Palace says it never discusses private o Speculation swirls after 40-year-old’s comments on reconciliation

documentaries his autobiography Spare , the couple have been critical of the royal household with Harry delivering particularly barbed comments about his father and elder brother, heir Prince William. In an emotional interview in May, after he lost a legal battle with the British government over his security, Harry, the Duke of Sussex, told the BBC he wanted a rapprochement. “Of course some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course they will never forgive me for lots of things. But you know... I would love reconciliation with my family... there’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. And life is precious. “I don’t know how much longer my father has. He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile,” he said. In July, the king’s communications chief and Harry’s media representatives were pictured at a secret meeting in London in what newspapers suggested might be the first steps towards a reconciliation. “I think it’s important for the image of the monarchy that the king and his younger son are seen to be on speaking terms. “I also think it’s very important for both of them... the king is the king, but he’s also a human being and a loving father,” historian and author Anthony Seldon said. Harry is not expected to see William, with newspapers saying the Prince of Wales was not yet ready to bury the hatchet with his brother. – Reuters and

family matters, while Harry’s spokesperson likewise declined to comment. The prince, 40, who last saw his father in February last year shortly after Buckingham Palace revealed the king was undergoing treatment for cancer, has been estranged not just from Charles but the rest of the Windsors since he and his wife Meghan left royal duties in 2020 and moved to California. Seeking rapprochement Since then, in interviews, TV

The visit has left media and royal commentators postulating that it will provide an opportunity for the 76-year-old monarch and his son to see each other and start healing their high-profile rift. “There is talk, growing talk, that he might well meet up with his father,” said Simon Perry, who covers the royal family in London for People magazine. “I think with any time Prince Harry comes close or relatively

Charles for the first time in about 20 months in tentative steps towards a family reconciliation. On Monday, which also happens to be the third anniversary of the death of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth, Harry attended the WellChild Awards, an annual charity event for seriously ill children for which he is a longtime supporter and one of their system on a daily basis? We’re acting on the concerns of parents and teachers and tackling the root causes of poor health and educational attainment head on,” Streeting said. A 12-week consultation will now gather evidence from experts, the public, and retailers and manufacturers. Under current rules, any drink with over 150mg of caffeine per litre requires a warning label saying it is not recommended for children. “Energy drinks might seem harmless, but the sleep, concentration and well-being of today’s kids are all being impacted, while high sugar versions damage their teeth and contribute to obesity,” Streeting said. – AFP

England moves to ban sale of energy drinks to children

Up to a third of 13- to 16-year-olds in England are believed to consume energy drinks. – 123RFPIC